Is the CV Killing Your Job Search?
Senior executives often feel frustrated and demoralised by an inefficient, time-consuming, and ultimately disappointing job search process. However, they might be missing the point. Stuck in a cycle of endlessly updating and sending out the CV, they fail to recognise how the senior executive hiring process has evolved. Today, it’s not the CV but rather your personal brand and networking efforts that will generate new opportunities.
Historically, job seekers have invested significant time, money, and effort into perfecting the CV. The CV has been viewed as the critical first step and the foundation of an effective job search. The rise of the internet and LinkedIn, however, changed everything.
Up until the late 1990s, the written CV was indeed the primary way senior executives showcased their experience and achievements. Job seekers would respond to advertisements or send their CVs to executive search firms. Recruiters evaluated CVs before inviting candidates for interviews, and stored these CVs in extensive paper-based filing systems. This was an inefficient and time-consuming process, one that was ripe for change.
The emergence of LinkedIn in 2003 revolutionised executive hiring. Senior executive recruiters could now find potential candidates online, conduct preliminary telephone interviews, and invite them for in-person meetings - all within hours. The candidate’s LinkedIn profile and online presence became crucial, while the CV was used mainly to confirm details.
Today, the process has advanced even further. Companies use sophisticated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to narrow down hundreds of applicants to a manageable number. Search firms no longer have the time to meet candidates not obviously suited to a specific assignment. Simply sending numerous CVs and following up is no longer effective.
The savvy executive now focuses on creating a compelling and memorable personal brand - both verbal and digital - and leverages this brand to activate and expand their network. By nurturing this network, relevant opportunities arise naturally. At Harlschon Consulting we see this every day, with clients in financial services, in the retail sector, in consumer marketing, medical equipment, and in Private Equity. By shifting the focus from the CV to creating a strong personal brand and engaging the network differently, these clients have found exciting new opportunities that they would never have found any other way.
Think about it: focusing excessively on tweaking your CV and sending it out to as many people as possible may actually hinder your job search, rather than helping. You risk not only alienating your contacts, but also distracting you from the core task of building and leveraging your personal brand.
Our advice to senior executives is simple. To avoid a prolonged and frustrating job search, prioritise developing a strong personal brand and actively nurturing your professional network.
Ready to transform your job search strategy? Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how a strong personal brand and more effective networking can lead you to the right opportunities.